Introducing the 2019 Dallas mayoral candidates

The city of Dallas will be holding their next mayoral election on May 4 to elect the next mayor of Dallas. The current mayor, Mike Rawlings, is not able to run for reelection due to term limits. The election will be a nonpartisan blanket primary. If no candidate takes a majority, over 50 percent of the total vote, the two top vote-earners will advance to a runoff election on June 8.

Albert Black jumped into the race early in July. Black served as the first African American chairman of the Dallas Regional Chamber and has many other commendations. These include: he has also served as chairman of the Baylor HealthCare System, helping to establish the Baylor Diabetes Health & Wellness Institute, and he is the current chairman of the Charles Sammons Cancer Center and the Dallas Housing Authority. His campaign is focusing on building a better Dallas for everyone, creating more jobs, and increasing access to health care and create more opportunities for Dallas’ children.

Regina Montoya has spent her entire adult life in Dallas, where she has grown in the community as a civic leader, corporate and healthcare attorney, college professor and a nonprofit CEO. She has served as the senior vice president and general counsel of Children’s Medical Center, vice chair of the DFW Airport’s board, and chaired Mayor Rawlings poverty task force committee. Montoya’s whole campaign is for “running for the people of Dallas,” and she is focusing on poverty, housing, education, walkability, transportation, access to healthcare and more. Montoya stands out in the race due to the person that is endorsing her. Hillary Clinton, the former presidential contender, is throwing all of her support towards Montoya. Montoya worked as an aide in the Clinton administration, and helped raise money for her in 2016.

Lynn McBee has recently moved from the streets of Highland Park to downtown Dallas to be qualified to run for mayor. McBee has long been a high-profile philanthropist and civic leader in Dallas. She is the current chair of the board for The Bridge homelessness center in downtown Dallas. Her endorsements include developer Jack Matthews, car dealership chain owner Clay Cooley, Billingsley Co. CEO Lucy Billingsley, and former Mary Kay CEO Richard Rogers.

Born and raised in Dallas, Mike Ablon is a real estate developer who is most well known for his work bringing to life the Design District – a vibrant community comprised of upscale galleries, showrooms, and restaurants. Ablon’s core goal is to bring the city of Dallas together to help strengthen and revitalize neighborhoods so they are safe and prosperous. He has served as the Chair of the Trinity River Corridor Local Government Corporation, Vice-Chairman of a Senior Living Development as well as 20 years of Board & Executive Committee positions at the Real Estate Council & its Foundation. Ablon is endorsed by the former city attorney, Larry Castro, who ended his campaign for mayor and endorsed Ablon.

Miguel Solis is the youngest person ever elected to the Dallas ISD school board and the youngest to serve as its school board president. His campaign is focusing on tackling the city’s issues including: housing, transportation, food deserts and inequality. His background includes serving as co-founder and president of the Latino Center for Leadership Development, serving as a staff member on Obama’s Presidential campaign, mayoral appointee to the Citywide Poverty Task Force, and Special Assistant to the Superintendent of Dallas ISD.

Alyson Kennedy is a former presidential candidate earning a spot on seven states’ ballots. Now, the socialist candidate says she wants to improve conditions for workers in Dallas. She wants to be a voice for the millions of working people in Dallas and beyond in cities, small towns and on farms who even in this temporary “economic recovery” face rising rents, home and farm foreclosures.

Scott Griggs is an attorney and North Oak Cliff’s City Council member. He’s been outspoken against major projects like the Trinity Toll Road and the broken pedestrian bridge along Interstate 30. Scott was voted as the 2012 Best Politician by D Magazine and the Dallas Observer. On the Dallas City Council, Scott is the Vice-Chairman of the Government Performance and Financial Management Committee. He is a member of the Economic Development and Housing Committee and the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee. He previously served as Chairman of the Housing Committee from 2015 to 2017, during which time he led the City’s development of a new, comprehensive housing policy. Scott grew up in Dallas, attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a degree in chemistry before attending law school at the University of Texas. After obtaining his law degree, Scott returned to Dallas to practice intellectual property law.

Jason Villalba is known for his support for law enforcement, his fight against anti-vaxxers and the bathroom bill. He has served three terms in the Texas House before losing the Republican primary for state representative in 2018. He is on the board of Boards and Commission, Dallas Housing Finance Corporation, Dallas Citizens Election Advisory Commission, Dallas Zoo, and the Dallas Holocaust Museum and Center for Education and Tolerance. He is focusing on city infrastructure,public safety and reducing taxes for the elderly.